While we can wish to go the...
Warning, Personality may be volitile
Another week down. Well almost. As many of you know I am Mr. Mom three nights a week while my wife works a part-time job with the airlines, which quite frankly doesn’t pay. That on top of the loss of the child support, we have some tough time ahead. But when it comes to my life, debt is something that can be managed in multiple ways, so I am working to remain optimistic.
Last night was to me a milestone in growth for Will. At 8 he still swings back and forth between a small child, and an older child. Some days the pendulum swings left, and some days to the right. Last night was a right swing milestone.
One thing about Will is he does not deal well with being tired. He is always and on the go child, and usually by Thursday the week has caught up with him. So the norm is for him to do his homework right after school, at his grandmothers before the exhaustion and potential for meltdown becomes full force. Yesterday his grandfather had him outside playing baseball, and he made a card for his cousins upcoming birthday, which meant homework was still on the to do list when we got home last night. Thursday night is spelling pre-test night. It is always challenging because he is also a perfectionist so the idea of spelling something incorrectly is as bad as it gets. Nights where we are in this situation, generally a severe a swift meltdown occurs. It is accompanied by the associated crying, screaming, and loss of control. Last night I saw it coming and was getting prepared. I knew after the third slam of the pencil when he couldn’t remember the spelling of a word that my minutes were numbered, and time was running out. I must make note that you never tell him, that he is “tired” or even worse “over tired”, as that is like detonating a nuclear device. The fallout is never pleasant, and recovery time can be extensive.
So there I was, ready to manage the detonation of his temper (he has one let me tell you), and ready to take some deep breaths and remain calm. The voice went to wine/cry mode, the face became distorted, and the fourth pencil slam occurred. Then suddenly that pendulum swung far right.
Will suddenly said to me in his pre-tantrum voice I know so well, “Daddy, what’s wrong with me, why am I getting so mad and upset. Why can’t I spell these words?” I stood there for what seemed like hours, yet was only a few seconds speechless. I knew whatever I said needed to be carefully thought out, and the wrong words would cause and even bigger core meltdown than usual. I must have paused too long, because he said it again, now with anger and frustration. “Arghh, what is wrong with me, Daddy, What is wrong with me?” I knew I had to say something fatherly and sharp here because any further delay would cost me, we were at critical mass.
I though carefully and then crossed my fingers, and responded with, “Well buddy, sometimes if I have a really busy week, or a really long day, and then I come home it get really hard for me to concentrate because I get tired.” Surprisingly enough he responded that he was probably just tired too, and that’s why it was so hard for him. Suddenly without warning the red alert siren stopped sounding, and meltdown was avoided. That’s when I said to myself, “He’s growing up.”
~Another Day
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